SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN--(CCNMatthews - April 10, 2007) - The Canadian Labour Congress will launch BETTER CHOICE in Saskatoon on Thursday, April 12. The campaign encourages working people to ask federal political candidates where they stand on five issues that matter most to working families, then to vote for the party that supports them. The focus in Saskatoon will be on protecting jobs and wages, training and adequate pensions. You can find below, the Better Choice information backgrounder.

Spokesperson: Hassan Yussuff, CLC secretary-treasurer

Media Availability: Thursday, April 12, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. Mr. Yussuff will speak to the Provincial Council meeting of United Food and Commercial Workers. This portion of the meeting will be open to media and Mr. Yussuff will be available for interviews and questions immediately following his remarks.

The Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3.2 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada's national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 136 district labour councils. Web site: www.canadianlabour.ca

BETTER CHOICE - Background Information

BETTER CHOICE is the Canadian Labour Congress political issues campaign encouraging working people to ask politicians where they stand on some of the issues that matter most to working families, then to vote for the party that supports them.

BETTER CHOICE focusses on five issues that could make a real difference in people's lives if they were dealt with by those who are elected to Parliament. Those issues are:

JOBS - protecting jobs and wages for working people. This is especially important in Saskatoon and area, given recent layoffs and plant closures.

TRAINING and EDUCATION - creating skills and training opportunities for workers and their children.

PENSIONS - making sure that people get the pensions that they have earned.

PHARMACARE - making prescription drugs more affordable.

EARLY LEARNING - ensuring quality child care and early learning opportunities for workers and their kids.

Executive Officers of the Canadian Labour Congress are fanning out across the country in April and May to take the BETTER CHOICE message to working people.

The Canadian Labour Congress is the national voice of the labour movement. It is the largest democratic and popular organization in Canada with over three million members. We advocate realistic solutions on the issues that are relevant to workers and their families.